FG secures 1,721 terrorism convictions since 2017
By Olugbenga Ige
The Federal Government on Thursday said it has secured 1,721 convictions for terrorism and related offences since the commencement of its Mass Trial Programme in October 2017, describing the initiative as a key component of its strategy to strengthen criminal justice administration while upholding due process and the rule of law.
The Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, disclosed this during a joint security briefing by spokespersons of security, defence and law enforcement agencies in Abuja.
According to him, the programme, coordinated by ONSA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, security and law enforcement agencies, as well as international partners, has successfully completed 10 phases of terrorism trials.
He said, “The Federal Government has continued to strengthen the administration of criminal justice in terrorism cases through its Mass Trial Programme, a coordinated initiative involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, security and law enforcement agencies, and international partners.
“Since the commencement of the programme in October 2017, ten phases of mass trials have been successfully conducted, resulting in 1,721 convictions for terrorism and related offences.”
Mijinyawa stressed that the programme was not only focused on convictions but also ensured justice for defendants where evidence was insufficient.
“The programme has also ensured that defendants against whom the prosecution did not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt were discharged or acquitted, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to due process, the rule of law, and fair trial standards,” he said.
Providing a breakdown of the trials, Mijinyawa said the first three phases, conducted between 2017 and 2018 at Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, recorded 366 convictions, 882 discharges, five acquittals and 61 adjourned cases.
He said the programme resumed in 2023 with Phase Four, which secured 14 convictions, while Phases Five and Six in 2024 produced 351 convictions, including cases involving terrorism financing, international crimes and sexual and gender-based violence.
“During the same period, eight defendants were discharged, while three defendants were referred for medical or mental health evaluation,” he added.
According to him, Phases Seven and Eight conducted in 2025 recorded **125 additional convictions.
Mijinyawa said the most remarkable progress was achieved in 2026 during Phases Nine and Ten held at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
He said the two phases produced 865 convictions, comprising 386 convictions in Phase Nine and 479 convictions in Phase Ten, alongside 28 discharges, one acquittal and 224 adjourned cases.
“A notable milestone of the programme is that the 865 convictions secured in 2026 account for more than half (50.3 per cent) of all terrorism-related convictions recorded since the programme commenced in 2017.
This also exceeds the combined total of 856 convictions secured during the preceding nine years (2017–2025),” he stated.
Mijinyawa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring accountability for terrorism offences while safeguarding constitutional rights.
“The discharge or acquittal of defendants where the prosecution failed to satisfy the required legal standard underscores our commitment to fair trial standards and the rule of law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops neutralised 1,597 terrorists and insurgents, rescued 1,516 kidnapped victims and conducted 14,221 operations across the country between January and June 2026.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, represented by Group Capt. Kabiru Ali said the operations comprised coordinated land, air and maritime missions across several states.
According to him, troops also recovered **451 firearms, 16,726 rounds of ammunition, 161 explosives and improvised explosive devices, significantly degrading the operational capability of criminal groups.
“Operations covered major security flashpoints in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo and Kaduna states,” he said.
Uba explained that troops carried out intelligence-driven operations, targeted raids, clearance missions and rescue operations, leading to the neutralisation of 412 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, the arrest of 332 terrorists, the rescue of 261 kidnapped victims from terrorist enclaves and the surrender of 132 insurgents.
He said troops also safely detonated 31 improvised explosive devices during the period.
The defence spokesperson added that the Armed Forces strengthened civil-military cooperation through 33 peacebuilding initiatives, 13 public sensitisation campaigns and 33 stakeholder engagements with traditional and religious leaders.
He said the military also issued 593 press releases, countered 15 cases of misinformation and released 10 public advisories to enhance public awareness.
Uba reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to sustaining operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and crude oil theft.
“We remain committed to sustaining operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and crude oil theft across the country,” he said, urging Nigerians to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
Also speaking, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Iniedu Okokon, said the Nigeria Police Force dismantled several criminal networks and strengthened intelligence-led policing during the first half of the year.
He said the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team arrested 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, recovering 17 rifles, an anti-aircraft launcher and 111 rounds of ammunition.
Okokon disclosed that police dismantled a 33-member criminal network involved in terrorism, cattle rustling and violent attacks in Kwara State, while also arresting suspects linked to the murder of three police officers in Taraba State.
He added that operatives rescued a kidnapped woman and her 12-year-old twin sons during an operation on June 6 after neutralising two kidnappers and recovering two firearms.
According to him, improved border security also led to the interception of 181 rounds of ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor and strengthened collaboration with INTERPOL against transnational crimes.
Okokon further revealed that police dismantled a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered about 60 tonnes of vandalised railway materials valued at approximately N400 million.